PEARL, Miss. — Gov. Phil Bryant issued a State of Emergency on Wednesday afternoon in light of the threat of major floods in the Mississippi River area.
All counties along the Mississippi River and its tributaries are included in the State of Emergency. Local governments in affected areas can request state assistance to deal with response and recovery related to flooding.
“We are told this flood will be just below the historic record flood of 2011,” Bryant said in a statement. “Our citizens have time to prepare and should begin taking actions now.”
The National Weather Service predicted the following crests:
- Tunica: 53.5 feet on 1/10
- Vicksburg: 54 feet on 1/16
- Greenville: 60 feet on 1/14
- Natchez: 60 feet on 1/18
In Tunica, the river is currently at 38 feet, with flood stage starting at 41 feet.
Tunica casino operations are currently safe and operating as usual, but officials are monitoring the river’s water level, according to the Tunica Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
